For anyone who's been fascinated with the amazing journey that cute little sea turtles have to take when they hatch to make it to the ocean, TOBY is perfect. I admit that while reading the book, it found a special place in my heart. We watched the sea turtles be released into the ocean a couple years back at Padre Island National Seashore, and I couldn't help but think of those darling little turtles as I read TOBY. It's fun. It's cute. What more could you want?

Birds and crabs and crocs - oh my! - stand between Toby and his new ocean home. Can he outslip, outslide, out double-flip and dive them? Join this plucky little sea turtle on his adventures from egg to ocean.

About Stacy Nyikos:

In a quiet little office/at a comfy little desk/Stacy Nyikos chews on pencils/and scribbles silliness…when she’s not plucking splinters from her teeth, that is. Stacy holds an MFA in Writing (silliness) for Children from Vermont College. She spends her days chasing—or being chased—by stories. Toby is her latest catch. He sees it the other way around—catching her in the form of two very curious but courageous rescue sea turtle’s she met during a behind the scenes tour of her local aquarium. Either way, a lot of pencils got crunched writing his story.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

I just want to do a quick shout out to The Writing Barn, one of the most awesome locations for a class, retreat, or party right here in south Austin. My pal Bethany Hegedus is the owner of The Writing Barn, and I've been there for classes, parties (with goats and a rockabilly band), and just to hang out. In case you are ever looking for something like the barn, here are the official details!

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The Writing Barn is a retreat, workshop, and event space located in Austin, Texas.

Writing Barn Presents events are designed to offer thoughtful programming to engage writers of all levels to continue to study craft, provide a safe space for experimentation, read and analyze current books, and to come away from the intensives with revision ideas, and tips and tools to take works-in-progress to the next level.

Along with special events, where writers of all levels are welcome to apply, we also offer Advanced Writer Weekend Workshops.

The goal of this AWWW series is for dedicated and productive writers (agented/published/or on-the-verge) to spend time with their peers, attending lectures and workshop to enhance skills and to re-energize their commitment to their craft as their career develops and changes.
Faculty lectures are on par with MFA programs.
We welcome attendees from around the country, and have lodging options for those traveling from outside Austin.

The Book House, our new lodging will have bedrooms: Pulitzer and Booker on the top floor. These rooms will have two double beds. The Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz rooms will be on the ground floor, with two single beds per room. Each room has its own private bath. Complete with a galley kitchen and a living room, the Book House has it all. There is even a wrap-around porch with plenty of outlets for writing outside. The Book House opens in August!

With the addition of The Book House, The Writing Barn 7.5 acre grounds will sleep 18. The Writing Barn 3-4, The Book House 10, and The Cabin 3-4. Each building may be rented independently or as a whole. If traveling from out of town, consider a week long retreat, as we offer discounts for longer stays. Peak season is winter through spring. Low season: the holidays and summer months.